Machine for and method of applying indicating tabs to address-printing devices



- April 4, 1944-.

ELLIOTT 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inven ?07% PM E w b Filed Aug. 3, 1940 MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF APPLYING INDICATING TABS TO ADDRESS-PRINTING DEVICES H. P. ELLIOTT April 4, 1944.

MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF APPLYING INDICATING TABS TO ADDRESS-PRINTING DEVICES Filed Aug. 5, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aprll 4, 1944. H P, ELLIOTT 2345365 MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF APPLYING INDICATING TABS TO ADDRESS-PRINTING DEVICES Filed Aug. 5, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 E zm April 4-, 1944. ELLIOTT 2,345,965

MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF APPLYING INDICATING TABS TO ADDRESS-PRINTING DEVICES Filed Aug. 3, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 4, 1944' MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF APPLYING INDICATING TABS TO ADDRESS-PRINT- ING DEVICES Harmon 2. Elliott, Watertown, Mass. Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,484

37 Claims.

The present invention relates to machines for securing tabs to articles and, as illustrated herein; relates more particularly to a machine for.

applying swinging tabs to address-printing plates and especially to address-printing stencil frames. i v

Address-printing stencils are oftentimes provided with metal tabs which are pivotally connected to the stencil frame and are capable of being swung into different positions to indicate different meanings. For'example, one position 7 of the tab may indicate that the account represented by the address on the stencil has been paid and the other position may indicate that the account has not been paid. These tabs, which d and a machine for forming and applying such i tabs to address-printing, and particularly,'stenci1 are formed of metal, cooperate in one position with circuit terminals of a stencil selecting mechanism of an addressing machine with the result that a printing operation will be performed on a stencil and in another position cause the stencil to be passed through the printing position without a printing operation being performed thereon.

Heretofore, the metal tabs have been formed from a single length of metal which is folded upon itself to form a U-shaped member, one oi the end portions of the tab being located substantially under the other end portion of the tab and substantially in engagement therewith due to the inherent resiliency of the metal strips from which the tab is made. The tab, at one end thereof, is provided with an opening for receiv-; ing a detent formed in the other underlyingend portion, the detent passing through an opening in a stencil in such a manner that the opening in the tab and'the detent' cooperate with each other to hold the tab releasably and hingedly in position on the stencil. This construction permits the tab tobe swung from one position to the other on the stencil to indicate difierent meanings, as above set forth.

Tabs constructed in the manner described above, under ordinary conditions, remain in position on the stencil and are efiective to close the controlling circuit of an addressing machine. Under some conditions, however, particularly where the stencils are subjected to careless use, the metal tabs may become detached from their stencils or become loose so that they will not remain in the desired position. When thisoccurs, it is apparent that the proper stencils may not be selected for printing therefrom or impressions may be printed from stencils which it was desired to pass through printing position without printing therefrom.

An object of the invention is to provide a methframes. As illustrated, the present-machine is provided with means for feeding successive stencil frames from a holder into a position where the tabs may be secured in proper position relatively to the stencil frames. The illustrated machine is provided with means for feeding metal tab strips, means for welding the ends of the tab strips together and means for severing the tabs from separate metal tab-forming strips.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of applying tabs to stencil or printing frames. In accordance with this object, a feature of the invention resides in a method of applying tabs to printing frames which includes the step of permanently connecting together the superposed portions of a tab through an opening formed in the printing frame.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve the construction of addressprinting devices and indicating tabs therefor and to improve upon machines and methods of making such devices and tabs.

Although the present invention has been 11- lustratedwith particular reference to a machine for applying swinging metal tabs to address stencil frames, it is apparent that the present invention is not limited thereto since the invention could he used in connection with other types of address printing devices.

With the above and other objects and features in view, the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a machine illustrating a preferred embodiment of the inven tion;

Fig. .la is a detail view of a switch for controlling the operation of the welding mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken along the line 2-2 of- Fig. 1;

Fig. 2a is a detail View in cross section taken along the line 20-40: of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine, partly in section, taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

.Fig. 4 s a view on a somewhat enlarged scale in side elevation of mechanism for cutting surplus metal from the metal tab after it has been secured in position on a stencil frame;

Fig. 4a is a bottom plan' view of the movable tab trimming die;

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4;-

cil frame taken along a line extending longitudinally of the tab;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the tab cutting mechanism illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. is a view in front elevation illustrating the mechanism for severing the tabs from the tab strips;

Fig. 11 is a view in front elevation of a slide member associated with the metal severing mechanism for moving the severed ends of the tabs downwardly below a stationary cutter to prevent interference of the tab ends with said cutter during feeding operation of the stencil after the tabs have been attached thereto;

Fig. 12 is a view in side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view in front elevation illustrating the mechanism for operating the parts shown in Figs. 11 and 12;

Fig. 14 is a view in cross-section taken along the line 14-44 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 15 is a view in section similar to Fig. 14 but illustrating the position of the welding electrodes relatively to the stationary cutting anvil member;

Fig. 150. is a view on a somewhat enlarged scale in end elevation of the ratchet mechanism for operating the tab-strip feed rolls of the present machine;

Fig. 16 is a view on an enlarged scale of a tab strip showing the end of the upper tab strip after the tab severing operation;

Fig. 17 is a view in side elevation, on a somewhat enlarged scale, of the upper strip-cutting member;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 illustrating the construction of the lower strip-cutting member;

Fig. 19 is a plan view illustrating the relative position of the stencil cards or frames during operation of the machine;

Fig. 20 is a plan view of a portion of the stencil illustrating a step in the positioning of the tab forming members in the. tab notch of the stencil;

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 20 but showing the tab parts and the card in their proper positions prior to afiixlng the tab to the card; V

and

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Figs. 20 and 21 showing the tab atlixed to the card and severed commonly termed a welt sheet, combined between two thicker outer or facing paper'sheets 32 and 34 (Fig. 8); The outer sheets 32 and 3.4 are formed with aligned rectangular openings or windows 36 therein, Fig. 19. The. welt sheet extends into the space between the aligned windows 36 and is itself provided with a window. A stencil sheet 38, adaptedto bear the address rintingc'haracters. is located within one 01 the windows 36 and overlies the window of the welt sheet, and is suitably fixed to the edges of the welt sheet. As shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 19, for example, the thicker facing sheets 32 and 34 are 5 provided with aligned notches 40 which extend inwardly from the top edge of the frame and pass completely through the facing sheets, thereby exposing a portion of the welt sheet 3B. The two notches 48 in theouter of the facing sheets 10 32, 34 are in superposed alignment and are generally triangularly shaped with the inner end of the notches having a rounded portion 42. The exposed portion of the welt sheet 30 is provided, adjacent to the rounded portion 342, with a per- 15 foration or hole 44 (Fig. 19) through which a tab 46 is adapted to be secured. The tab 45 is thus rotatably or hingedly secured to the welt sheet and may be swung from one side to the other of the notch 40 to denote different meanings.

20 As shown most clearly in Fig. 8, the tab 46 is formed of two relatively thin flat pieces of springy metal, preferably steel, and these pieces of metal are substantially thinner than thecover or facing sheets 32, 84 so that the tab 48 does 25 not extend above the outer surfaces of the sheets and thus the tab 46 does not interfere in any way with the feeding of the stencil frames laterally from a. vertical stack of such superimposed frames. The outer or free ends of the tabs 46,

30 as shown most clearly, for example, in Fig. 7,

terminate short of the outer edge of the stencil so that the tabs do not project beyond the confines of the notch 40. During the tabforming operation, the upper metal strip is provided with 5 an upset portion or projection extended from a face thereof and into the .hole 44 in the welt sheet 30 and this upset projection is long enough so that it contacts with the lower tab strip.

These contacting portions of the tab 45 are 40 welded together as will later be described in de- 50 cured to the bed ill by bolts 54, Fig. 3. As

shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the U-shaped frame 52 is provided at its upper end portions with forwardly extending portions 56 in which the power shaft 58 of the machine is mounted. The upper end portions of the forwardly extending portions 56 are cut away to form bearing surfaces for the shaft 58 and cooperating bearing members 50 are secured to the portions 56 by suitable machine screws 62. The right hand end 60 of the shaft 58 has loose thereon a pulley or flywheel 64 which is driven from any suitable source of power (not shown) and which is operatively connected to the shaft 58 by a onerevolution clutch $6 of a type well-known in the 35 art. The clutch 66 is connected by a downwardly extending substantially vertical link 68 to a foot treadle (not shown), for initiating the operation of the machine. As is well known with this type of clutch, a. momentarydepression of 70 the foottreadle causes the flywheel to rotate the shaft one complete. revolution and thento be disengaged'from'the shaft until the treadle is again depressed. I

.. 'I'heshaft 58 intermediate the bearing mem-.

here 60 has fixed thereto an eccentric 10. As

shown most clearly in Fig. 2, an eccentric strap I2 surrounds the eccentric I and is formed of a cap part I4 and a connecting rod part I6 secured together by suitable machine screws I8. The eccentric strap part I6 has formed integrally therewith a connecting rod 80 which is pivotally secured to the inside of a hollow slide member or block 82 by a pin 84. The slide block 82 is arranged to be reciprocated by the eccentric I0 in suitable dovetail ways 85, Fig. 2, formed in the inner surfaces of the forwardly projecting portions 56 of the vertical U-shaped bracket 62.

As shown in Fig. 2, the reciprocating block 82 has I fixed to its forward vertical face a hollow block or bracket 88. This hollow bracket member is arranged to carry the upper tab strip severing mechanism and the upper electrode of the welding apparatus as will be explained hereinafter.

The lower portion of the bracket 88 is provided, aa about its middle lower portion, with a downwardly extending rib 90, Figs. 2, 2a, 10, and 17, which is arranged to engage a flat bar 92 fixed in a recess formed in the right hand end of a vertically movable block 94 by suitable screws 96. The block 94 carries a tab strip severing cutter 98 which is adjustably secured in a slot in the right hand end of the block 94 by suitable machine screws I00. In order to insure that the severing member or cutter will be maintained in its adjusted position, the forward face of the block 94 is provided with a threaded opening through which passes a locking screw I02 for engaging the forward surface of the severing member 98.

The block 94 is supported by a screw I04 which is threaded into the upper surface of the bar 92 and extends upwardly loosely through an opening formed in the rib 90 and through the lower portion of the bracket 88. Thus, when the block 88 is moved downwardly by the connections to the eccentric I0, the block 94 is permitted to drop downwardly until it engages the upper surface of a tab strip I06 which overlies the top surface of a stationary cutter member or anvil I08, see also Figs. 14 and 15. As the member 88 continues its downward movement, the lower surface of the rib 90 engages the upper surface of the bar 92 thus forcing the block 94 downwardly and causing the cutter member 98 to cooperate with the stationary cutter member I08 to sever the top tab from the strip I06.

The upper cutter carrying block 94 at its left hand end portion is provided with a dovetail I groove IIO, corresponding with the dovetail groove I42 of block I32, shown in Fig. 3, into which fits a dovetail member H2 formed as a patr of a vertically upstanding bracket member H4, which is fixed by machine screws II 6 to a base H8 supported above the machine bed 56 by suitable brackets I20.

The bar 92 in the upper cutter carrying bl ck 94 is provided at its rear end with a hole In for receiving a pivot screw I22 by which the upper end of a link I24 is pivotally secured to the bar 92. The lower end of the link '24 is pivoted to the rear end of an approximately horizontally extending lever I26 by a pin I28. The lever I26 is pivoted to a supporting block or bracket I30, Fig. 3, secured by suitable fas tenings to the sub-base H8. The forward end of the lever I26 is forked to receive a block I3I,

Figs. 2 and 18, which is pivoted to the right hand surface of a lower cutter-carrying block I32.

The block I32 has a groove at the forward Iii end portion of its right hand surface to receive a. lower cutter member I36 which is adjustably secured in position by set screws I38 extending through slots in the cutter member I36 and threaded into the block I32. Thus when the block 88 is moved downwardly, theblock I32 is moved upwardly because of motion transmitted thereto by the arm 92 through the link I24 and the lever I26. The upper end of the cutting member I36 cooperates with the lower surface of the stationary cutter member or anvil I08 to sever the lower tab strip I40 which underlies the under surface of the stationary cutter member I08. The block I32 at its left hand end portion is provided with a dovetail groove I42 which slides on the dovetail member II2 formed on the bracket II4.

.The stationary cutter member I08 is rigidly secured to the left hand side of a supportin block I46 which is secured to the sub-base Ha by a cap screw I41. The stationar cutter I88 has secured thereto a cover plate I50 which is bent over the top and around the side and bottom of the cutter member I08 and is spaced above the top surface and below the bottom surface thereof to provide guideways for the upper and lower tab strips which are fed to the stationary cutter member I08 by feeding mechanism.

Said feeding mechanism includes upper and lower feed rolls I52 and I54 respectively, Figs. 2 and 3. The upper feed roll I52 is mounted on a horizontal shaft I56 which is journalled in a bearing I58 formed in the forward end of a bracket I60, see also Fig. 151:, secured to the sub-base II8 by screws I62. The feed roll I54 is fixed to a shaft I64 which is journalled in a bearin I66 formed as a part of the lower front portion of the bracket member I60.

The right hand end of the shaft I56 has rotatably mounted thereon a ratchet wheel I61 which is rotated step by step by a pawl I68 pivotally fixed to a pawl carrying arm I10 which is rotatablv mounted on the right hand end of the shaft I56 and i held against displacement on the shaft I56 by a cap screw I12. As best shown in Fig. 1511. the pawl I68 is normally held in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel I61 by a spiral spring I16 which is fixed at one end to the pawl I66 and at its other end to the pawl carrying arm I'IIl. The pawl carrying arm I10 is provided with a substantially horizontal forwardly extending arm I18 having a longitudinal slot I therein which is arranged to receive a bolt I82 for pivotally connecting the arm I'IB to a substantially vertical l nk E84. The bolt may be fixed in adjusted position in the slot I80 to vary the length of feed of the feed rolls, as will later become apparent.

The upper end of said vertical link I84 is pivotally connected by a pin I86, Fig. 2, to the forward end of th forwardly extending arm of a bell crank lever I88 which is pivotally secured to the right hand surface of th right hand verti al portion of the bracket 52 by a cap screw I90. The other arm of the bell crank lever I88 is arranged to engage a cam member I92 fixed to the power shaft 58 of the machine adjacent to the right hand bearing 66. The cam member I92 has a raised portion I94 thereon which engages the end of the bell crank lever I88 and causes the bell crank lever to rotate in acountcr clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, which, consequently, imparts a clockwise movement to the pawl carrying arm I10 which in turn rotates 4- aaeaeae.

the ratchet wheel I62 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, and in a'clockwise direction asyiewed in Fig. 14. 4

The ratchet wheel I 61 has secured thereto a spur gear I96 which meshes with a small'spur gear I98 fixed to the shaft I60 carrying the lower feeding wheel I54. The shaft I62 also has fixed thereto a second spur gear 202 which meshes with a spur gear 204 of the same size fixed to the shaft I56 which carries the feed roll I62. Thus movement of the ratchet wheel in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig.15a, imparts rotary movement to the feed roll I64. through the spur gears I 96 and I06 and to the feed roll I62 through the spur gears 202, 204. This construction is designed to impart a. relatively great feeding movement to the feed rolls upon a relatively small movement of the bell crank lever I 82. After the feeding movement has been completed, the pawl arm H is returned to its original position by a 20 spring 206 fixed at one end to the lower end of the bell crank lever I10 and at its other end to the right hand upwardly extending portion of the bracket 52.

Upper and lower strip-guide members 208 and 2I0 having guideways which are of substantially the shape and size of the tab strips I06, I60 are secured to the bracket I60 by screws 2i 2. The

, forward ends of the guides 208 and 2m terminate just rearwardly of the feed rolls I52'and I54. The tab strips I06 and IE2 are normally held against the feed rolls I52 and I56 by idler rolls 2I4and 2I6 which are rotatably mounted in a plate m which is provided with a substantially horizontal slot arranged to receive a cap screw 220 which is threaded into the bracket I60. By this construction, the idler rolls 2 and 2I6 can be moved horizontally toward and away from the feed rolls I52 and I56.

The plate 2 I8 at its rear end is provided with a rearwardly extending and substantially horizontal shaft or rod 224 which is slidable in a hollow screw 226 threaded into a hole formed in a boss 222 formed on the left hand rear surface of the bracket I60. A compression spring 232 is interposed between the end of the hollow screw 226 and a cap formed on the forward end of the rod 224 which operates to urge the plate 2I8 and the idler rolls 2 and 2l6 thereon into engagement with their respective tab strips I06, I20, thus holding the strip firmly against their respective feed rolls I52, I54. It is to be noted that therespective strips I06 and I40 are curved away from each other as they pass between their respective idler rolls and feed rolls which imparts a permanent set to the tab strips I06 and I40 and, when the strips have been secured in position on their respective stencil frames, this permanent set will cause the outer or free ends of the strips I. to remain'closely adjacent to or in contact with each other without the necessity of securing these ends together. I .Thepresent machine is provided with mechanismfor feeding the stencil frames 28 to the tab affixing mechanism. This mechanism, Figs. 1 and 3, includes a suitable vertical holder-232 located at the right hand end of the machine and fixed "to a suitable base plate 232 which is mounted on and spaced above the bed 50 of the machine by a forwardly and rearwardly extending bracket t-ion, is provided with a shoulder 240 which is arranged to as the right hand edge of the lowermost stencil frame 22 in the holder 232 and, upon movement toward the left, is arranged .to remove the lowermost stencil from the stack of stencils in. the holder 232 and to feed the stencil into a guideway 2M fixed to the forward end of the frame.

The pusher member 236 is arranged to be reciprocated by an edge cam 222 mounted at the 10 right hand end of a horizontal shaft 222 which is journalled in suitable bearings 226 I formed as rearward extensions of the bracket member 236. The left hand and of the shaft 262 has secured thereto a sprocket wheel 226 which is driven from a sprocket 252 by an endless sprocket chain 262. \The sprocket wheel 250, see also Fig. 2, is fixed to the right hand end of a horizontal shaft 253 journalled in bearings formed in rearwardly extending bracket members 256 fixed to the rear surfaces of the upstanding portions of the bracket member 62. The left hand end of the shaft 253 has fixed thereto a sprocket wheel 266 which is driven by an endless sprocket chain 262 from a sprocket wheel 262 fixed to the left hand end part of the shaft 62 of the machine.

The cam member 222 is engaged by a cam roll \zn 266 which is rotatably mounted on the rear end of a cam lever 266 which is pivotally secured by a bolt 210 to the lower surface of the sub-base 232. The forward end of the cam lever 268 is slotted to receive a pin 222 fixed to and projecting downwardly from the lower surface of the pusher member 232. The cam roll 266 is normally held in contact with the cam member 262 by a spiral tension spring 226 which is fixed at one end to the cam lever 262 and at its other end to the right hand bearing 226 of bracket 226.

, Thus the pusher member 226 is reciprocated once h during each rotation of the power shaft 56 to 0 feed astencil 22 from the lower portion of the holder 232.

The guideway 2M comprises a pair of guide rails or tracks 216, 272 having confronting grooves to receive the front and rear edges of the stencil 45 frames to guide them into operating position. The right hand ends of the guide rails 276' and 226 are fixed adjacent to and in alignment with the lower end of the holder 232 by screws 282. The extreme left hand end of the rails 276, 210

to are fixed to a forwardly extending bracket memher 222 which is supported above the machine bed 50 bybrackets 226. The bracket 284 also supports a receiving holder or hopper 286 of usual construction. The stencil feeding mechanism 5 above described is of the type commonly used in addressing machines and need not be described in further detail herein.

' As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the tab severing mechanism hereinbefore described is located my two stencil-feeding steps from the left hand end of the holder 232. Thus, three stencils must be fed from the bottom of the holder 232 before a stencil is brought into position to have a tab aflixed thereto.

05 'Ifiie tab securing mechanism includes a pair of upper and lower welding electrodes 290, 292. The upper electrode 290 projects downwardly from the lower surface of a block 296 which is secured tothe lower end of a vertically extending 7o rod or holder 296. The rod 296 has fixed thereto -a slide member 296 which'is clamped to the rod 296 and is provided at its rear portion with ways which fits into dovetail slots 299 formed in a block 300. The block.300 is fixed by suitable 7 machine screws to the hollow block 66 and is insulated therefrom by means including an elec trical insulating strip Site. for securing the block Stil to, the hollow bloclr are also suitably insulated from said blocl: so that there is no electrical connection between the block are and the hollow block; lit.

The block Silt is provided with a pair of substantially horizontal forwardly extending bosses act which are provided with holes to receive bolts tilt; which extend downwardly through the bosses tiltand are threaded into the clamping member 298.; Qompression springs 3618 are located on said bolts between the lower surface of the bosses 36d and openings formed in the clamping member 298. With this construction, the slide 32 with the block fixed thereto and the electrode holder 29E move downwardly a a unit until the lower end of the electrode 2% strikes the metal tab. The spring connection between the clamping member and the member or blocls tilt then yields upon iurther downward movement of the block: to operation or the strip severing mechanism.

The lower electrode is fixed to the upper end of a rod or holder Sit which is received in v a clamping member tit provided with a substantially vertical upstanding portion did by which the clamping member Sill is secured to the lower cutter carrying block H2. The clamping member 882 is electrically insulated from the lower cutter carrying bloch i232 by a strip of insulating material. The machine screws 3 it hold the clamping member dill fast to the block i824 and are also insulated to prevent electrical cone nection between the clamping member and the block When the machine is out into operation, the upper cutter carrying member 9% and the lower cutter carrying block ltt are moved toward each other and cooperate with the cutting surface of the stationary cutter member hit to sever two tabs from the ends oi" each of the tab strips ltd, Mt. During this cutting operation, the elec trodes 2th, tilt also move toward each other and,

shortly before the strip severing operation takes place, the electrodes 29B, 292 are in contact with the leading ends of the tab strips Hi8 and Mil and thus firmly hold the tab strips against displacement during'the severing operation and the same time weld the contacting portions of the two tab strips together.

The upper electrode 29d bears against the up-- per surface of the end portion of the upper tab strip W6 and the projection 330, which is slightly longer than the thickness of the welt sheet 30, passes through the opening 44 in the welt sheet and is pressed into contact with the lower tab strip hill. The electrodes 290, 292 are then energized and the tab strips welded together through the projection 330. It is to be noted that the welding operation is very fast and is controlled by timing mechanism which will hereinafter be referred to in describing the electrical connections to the welding electrodes. The pressure applied to the projection 33!! and the fusing of the metal during the welding operation shorten the projection slightly so that the end portions of the tab strips are in close engagement with opposite surfaces of the welt sheet 38.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 20, 21, and '22, the tab strips are so severed that they are provided with rounded end portions 320 which fit into the rounded end portion of the notches 40 of the stencil frames.

In order to insure that the rounded end of the The screws 75 The blade 340 is mounted for 'th rounded. M ions the note-i; mechanism is provided ior moving; the stencil re r-we rdly from the position shown Flea to the position shown in 21, operation takes place just prior to t e severing and afiiinhg operations. its the ou members and the electrodes move toward each other, as just described above, a member Figs, 1, 2, and 3 fixed to the upper clamping member 298 engages the rear end portion or a substantially horizon= tal lever 32% which is pivoted in a bracket 326 fixed to the forward stencil guide rail The forward end of the lever 32 i engages the upper end of a generally vertical lever 328 which is also pivoted in the bracket The lower end of the lever 328 is provided with a portion which engages the forward edge of the stencil it in alluring position and pushes the stencil rear-= wardly from the goosition shown in Fig. 20 to the position shown in 21, thus bringing the sterocil frame into its proper position relatively to the tab strips and assuring that the projection formed on the upper tab strip tilt is aligned with the hole or opening formed in the welt sheet til and projects therethrough and into con= tact with the lower tab strip A leaf s1 ring on the rearmost track of guide it'll in t e region of the tab starting position engage the rear edge of the stencil for steadylng it.

The stencil is moved forwardly alter e afililllg operation, to align stencil with thother stencils in the stencil guideway. To this end, there is rovided a cam plate Sill (Fig. 3) fixed to the rear stencil guide tracts 22 M. The cam plate 3851, at its right hand end portion, is beveled and is arranged to be engaged by the stencil as it is moved out of tab position and cams the stencil forwardly and into alignroent with the other stencils.

The downwardly extending portion 33b formed during the severing operation. The up per cutter carrying block to, as shown most clear ly in Fig. it, carries a block. which is lined to the lower surface thereof by a suitable screw The lower surface of the hlocl; 332 carrie a down= wardly extending projection 336 which is ar ranged to engage the upper surface of the tab strip ltd adjacent to forward end thereof to force a portion oi the tab strip W6 into a recess tilt formed in stationary cutter member 1th Since the forward end of the tab strip we has the downwardly extending projection 338 which fits into the recess 338 of the stationary cutter member m8, means must be provided to free the downwardly extending projection 338 from the recess. To this end a blade 3W, Figs. 10, 15, is provided which is arranged to be inserted between the upper surface of the stationary cutter member 94 and the strip I06 to lift the projection 330 out or the recess 338. The blade are is reciprocated during movement of the movable cutter members to cutting position by a substantially vertical cam bar 3:12 which is secured to the side of the block 88 and extends downwardly and is provided with a cam surface 344 which is arranged to engage a projection 345 fixed to the right hand end of the blade member 840. As best shown in Fig. 15a, the upper end of the cam bar 342 is provided with a slot 341 mto which fits a cap screw 349 threaded into the block 83 thus providing a. lost motion connection between the block 88 and the link 342.

slidini movement in the top of the supporting block @546 and is prevented from being displaced upwardly out of the slot in the block by a plate 368'; The blade 346 is normally maintained in the position shown in Fig. by a leaf spring 356 which is fixed to the right hand end of the block 036. After the feeding operation has begun, the blade 346 is moved toward the right by the cam member 346, at which time the downwardly extending projectin 336 on the strip 666 has been fed forwardly beyond and out of the recess 3363.

Referring now tn Fig. 22, it will be noted that the rear end of the tab has a curved recessed portion 35! formed as a result of the tab sever ing operation. This curved portion 35L of course, is in engagement with the stationary cutter memher 166 and, consequently, will interfere-with the feeding of the stencils toward the left. To over-' come this difficulty, means are provided for moving the tab ends with the curved recess 35! downwardly below the cutter member l68.- As shown most clearly in Figs. 16 to 13, inclusive, the block I36 at its forward portion has mounted thereon a substantially horizontally extending finger-352 which is arranged to be moved horizontally above the tab members in front of the cuttermember I68, after the tab severing and amxing operation has been completed. The finger 352 is also mounted for vertical sliding movement by means of ways 354, 356 fixed to the front surface of the block I36. The finger 352 is mounted for horizontal movement in horizontal ways formed on the upper surface of a vertically reciprocable member 358 which is reciprocable in said vertical ways 354, 356 and which at its lower left hand portion carries thereon a projection 366 to the extreme left hand end portion of which is secured a roll 362. The right hand way 356 has pivotally secured thereto an operating member 364 having an arm extending toward'the left which is arranged to engage the roll 362 to move the slide 358 downwardly. The upper end of the member 364 is provided with a forked end portion; which surrounds a screw or pin 366 threaded into theright hand end of the sliding finger 352. The operating member 364 is provided with a recessed portion 368 which is arranged toreceive a latch member 316 pivotally secured in the recess by a cap screw 312. The latch member 316 is normally urged upwardly by a spiral spring 314 mounted in recesses formedin the lower portion of the latch 316 and in the adjacent edge portion of the notch 368. a

Movement of the sliding finger 352 and the slide 358 is provided by a member 316 carried on the lower end of the cam rod or bar 342. The member 316 is secured to the lower end of the cam bar 342 and, during downward movement of the cam bar, depresses the latch 316 and slides below the latch. During upward movement of the cam bar 342, the upper surface of the member 316 engages the lower portion of the latch 316 and rotates the member 364 in a counter clock-wise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10. During the first portion or this. swinging movement,

the finger 352 is moved toward the left to overlie the severed tabvstrips I66 and 146. Upon further continued clockwise movement, the member 364 engages the roll 362 causing the slide to move lines in Fig. 13 to move'the curvedrecessed end of the stationary cutting member I68." The slide 358 is returned upwardly to its original position by a spiral compression spring 318 which" is mounted between the lower end of the slide 352 and a block 386 secured between the ways 354 and ass and in front of the block are. After the 7 member 364 has reached the position shown ondotted lines in 13, the member 316 slides past the end of the latch 316 and continues its upward movement, the spring 318 then being free to return the slide 358 to its. original or initial upper position. The operating member 366 is returned to its initial position, that is, the position shown in full linesin Figs. l6through 13 by a spring 382 which is fixed at one end to the upper portion of the member 366 and at its other endto a forwardly extending arm 386 fixed to the right hand side of the bracket or block 636.

' When the stencil having a-tabfixed thereto is fed toward the left into the position shown at B in Fig.v 19, the excess metal on the tab is severed by mechanism which will now. be described. This tab end severing or trimming mechanism, Figs. 3 through 9, includes a stationary cutter 386 and a movable cuter member 388. The stationary cutter member 386 is adiustably secured in a vertical groove 381 formed in the rear end of a block 396which isfixed to an upstanding bracket 392 secured to the bed 56 of the machine by suitable bolts 396. Saidgroove361 is overlapped at its rear end byplates' 396, FigsA and 9, secured thereto by suitable machine screws.

The cutter 386 is held in adjusted vertical positionin the block 396 by an'adjusting screw 466 which is threadedthrough a hole formed in the bottom of the block 396 and which engages the lower surface of the cutter member 386. Thus, by

adjusting the screw 466, the 15p surface of the cutter member is maintained at a proper level relative to the rear stencil guide track 216. The

block 330 has a vertical dovetail connection 46! with the-bracket 392 by which the block is ver-- tically adjustable, the adjustment being maindownwardly into the positionshown in dotted portion of the tab below the stationary cutting member I68 and thusleaves the tabfree to be'fed tained by tightening the gib 463.

The upper trimming cutter 388 is fixed to the V forward surface ora slide block 462 by suitable machine screws 664. The rear portion of the slide block 462 is provided with a clove tail groove for receiving a dove-tail way 466 formed on the'front face of an upstanding bracket 468 base 8 of the machine. The slide 462 at its upperedge is provided with a substantially verticallyextending portion 6 which is provided with an opening toreceiv'e a cap screw 412. The cap screw 482 also passes through-an opening in the left hand end of a substantially horizontal extending'boss 414 which is carried on the left hand side of the reciprocatory slide block 88. Thus when the block 88 moves downwardly during the tab strip severing operation, the trimming cutter member 388 will also be moved downwardly to sever the end of the tab.

In order to insure that the tab will be disposed substantially at right angles to the rear edge of the stencil frame when the stencil frame is in position to have a tab severing or trimming operation performed thereon, means are provided which will insure that the tab will'be in proper position. As the stencil moves along its guide track the tabstend to lag behind and may become tilted from vertical position as shown in full lines in 6, and must be moved to vertical eration thereon. As shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 6, there is provided a finger 428 which is pivoted by a cap screw 422 to a bracket 424 fixed to the front surface of the bracket 488. The finger 428 is arranged to be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, by a cam member 424 which is secured to the left hand side portion of the sliding block 482. The lower portion of this cam member 424 is provided with a forwardly and downwardly inclined surface which engages the end 428 of the finger 428 during downward movement of the cutter member 6 to the full line position by a spring 438 connected between the finger and the bracket 488.

It is important to insure that the stencil 28 will be stopped in the proper Position for the tab trimming operation. To this end, the cutter member 388 carries a stop rod 432 which is arranged upon downwardmovement of the cutter 388 to enter an opening 434 formed in the rear stencil track 2 to engage a notch or shoulder 438 formed in the top edge of the stencil frame. Thus the stop rod 432 will permit the stencil to move only until the shoulder 438 engages the rod 432.

The cooperating cutters 388 and 888 shear oif end parts of the tabs carried by the stencil, the waste parts dropping into a suitable receptacle below, and provide the ends of the tabs with the notch 41 and the rounded finger engaging projections on opposite sides of the notch as illustrated in Fig. 7, the ends of the tabs being inset within the line of the rear edge of the stencil. Due to the bending or setting of the tab strips by the rolls I52, I54 the weldedtogether tabs tend permanently to spring inward- 1y toward each other and thus maintain the free ends close together without the necessity for interconnecting the ends.

.The electrodes 292 and 294 are supplied with electric current from a suitable transformer 448 secured by suitable bolts to the bed 58 of the machine One terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer 448 is connected to the lower end of the rod 3I8 carrying the electrode 292 by a heavy flexible cable or wire 442 that is attached to a terminal 444 which is clamped to the rod or holder 3I8. The upper electrode carrying rod 298 is connected to the other terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer 448 by a heavy flexible cable or wire 448 which is provided with a terminal 448 clamped to the top of the rod 298.

The energization of the primary winding of the transformer is controlled by control appara tus of known construction contained in a suitable cabinet, the time of duration of secondary or welding current being variable at the will of the operator under control of the time-setting device 458 also of known construction.

The arrangement is such that, after initiation of energization of the transformer by mechanism operated by the machine, the energization continues for a predetermined time as set by the device 458 and the transformer i then deenergized independently of the machine control.

The fiow of current to the primary winding of the transformer 448 is initiated by a switch device 454 which is illustrated in Fig. 1a. The

switch 484 comprises an insulating strip 488 which is mounted in any suitable manner at the top left hand vertical portion of the U -shaped frame 82 by suitable fastenings. Strip 458 is shown in the detail showing of Fig. 1a. Terminals 488 and 482 mounted on the forward face of the strip 458 extend through openings formed therein and are held in position by suitable fas tenings. The upper terminal member 488 has fixed thereto a movable switch arm 488 formed of suitable resilient electrical conducting material and the lower free end of the strip 488 is arranged intermittently to be brought into contact with the rearwardly extended end of the lower contact member 482 to complete an electric circuit. The opening and closing movements of the strip 488 are controlled by a cam 488 mounted in the extreme left hand end portion of the power shaft 58 of the machine. The cam member 488 is provided with a raised portion 418 which is arranged to engage the strip 488 at the time that the two electrodes 288 and 292 are brought into contact with the tab strips, thus initiating the transformer energization.

Although the invention has been described in detail, it may be well, for a clearer understanding of the invention, to review briefly the operation of the present machine. The machine is started by conditioning the clutch member 88 to operatively connect the drive pulley 84 with the drive shaft 58. After the machine has been set into operation, a stencil frame 28 is fed from the holder 232 and between the guide tracks 218, 218. After the third stencil 28 has been fed from the bottom of the stack 232, the first stencil is then in affixing position. The tab strip feed wheels I52 and i54 are then actuated by rotation of. the cam member I92 on the shaft 58 to feed the front ends of the upper and lower tab strips I88 and I48 into the notch 48 formed in the stencil frame 28. After this feeding operation has been completed, the stencil is moved rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 28 to the position shown lnFig. 21 by the posi'-- tioning finger or lever 328. During this rearward feeding movement of the stencil frame 28, the cutting members 98 and I38 are moved toward each other into tab strip severing position and the electrodes 298- and 292 are being moved toward the ends of the tab strip I88, I48 lying in the notches 48 of the stencil frame 28. The switch member 454 is then closed by rotation of the cam 488 after the electrodes 298 and 292 have been brought into contact with the upper and lower tab strips I88, I48. After the welding operation, which is very fast, the movalie cutter members 98, I 38 sever the upper and lower tab strips leaving the attached tab in the condition shown in Fig. 22. After these operations have been completed the finger 352 is moved downwardly to move the ends of the tab strips below the stationary cutter element I88.

The parts are then returned to their initial positions and another stencil frame 28 is fed from the bottom of the holder 232. The stencil to which the tab has just been afiixed is then brought into position below the tab trimming mechanism which removes the metal on the tab which projects beyond the edge of the stencil. After the stencil has been brought to a stop in the proper position by the stop r d 432, the lever 428 is swung in a clockwise direction to move the tab to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6.

The cutter member 388 then moves downwardly to sever the end of the tab to the length shown in Fig. 7. After this trimming operation has been completed the tab trimming cutter 3st and the stop 432 are returned to their initial positions. During this trimming movement, however, a tab aflixing and severing operation has been completed onthe next successive stencil which is then moved into tab trimming position and the first mentioned stencil 28 is fed out of the tracks are, 218 and into the receiving hopper or holder ace.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is;

1. In a machine for applying metal tabs to address stencils, the combination of means for advancing successive stencils into tab ag position, means for advancing a pair of superposed metal tab strips to overlie opposite faces of a stencil in such position, means for afiixing together the tab strips through the interposed stencil, and means for severing the attached tabs from the respective strips. I

2. In a machine for applying metal tabs to address stencils, means for advancing successive stencils into tab aflixing position, means for advancing a pair of superposed metal. tab strips to overlie opposite faces of a stencil in the tab affixing position, the strips being inherently stressed to flex toward each other and against the stencil, and means for connecting together against independent rotation the tab strips through the interposed stencil.

3. In a machine for applying metal tabs to through the intervening stencil, and means for severing the joined tabs from the respective fstrips.

4. In a machine for amxing metal tabs to address stencils, means for advancing successive stencils in a step by step manner into and out of a tab affixing position and thence into and out of a tab trimming position, means for advancing a pair of metal 'tab strips to overlie opposite faces of a stencil in tab aflixing position, means for securing together through the intervening stencil the free ends of the superposed tab strips, means for severing the connected tabs from the strips, and means located at the tab trimming position operative on a stencil therein to trim the free ends of the tabs.

5. In a machine for amxing metal tabs to articles, means for feeding successive articles into tab afilxing position, means for feeding successive metal tab strips into afllxing position on opposite sides of the successive articles, and means for affixing the ends of the tab strips that are over the articles fixedly together and pivotally to the successive articles and means for severing the tabs from the tab strips after the tabs have been secured to the successive articles.

6. In a machine for amxing metal tabs to articles, meansfor feeding successive articles into tab afiixing position, each article having a tabaffixing opening therein, means for feeding superimposed independent metal tab strips into afiixing position, means for connecting together in succession ends of superimposed tab strips through said openings in successive articles,

means operative prior to the tab amxing operaton to position the articles relatively to the ends of the tab strips, and means for severing the tabs from the tab strips after the tabs have been affixed to the successive articles.

I 7. In a machine for affixing metal tabs to suecessive articles, means -for feeding successive articles along a predetermined path into tab afilxing position, means for feeding metal tab strips into afiixing position, means movable transversely of the path of movement of the articles to move the successive articles laterally of said path of movement and against the ends of the tab strips, means for afllxing the ends of the tab strips to the successive articles, and means for severing the tabs from the tab strips after the tabs have been secured to the successive articles.

8. In a machine for aiiixing metal tabs to successive articles, means for advancing successive articles along a predetermined path into tab amxing position, means for feeding superposed metal tab strips into aflixing position, means movable transversely of the path of movement of the articles to move the successive articles laterally of said path of movement and along the space between said metal tab strips, means for connecting the free end parts of said tab strips together through the article, means for the strip feeding operation to position the articles relatively to the ends of the tab strips, means for welding the ends of the tab strips through holes formed in the successive articles for securing the tab strips to the articles, and means for severing the tab strips to form tabs on the successive articles.

i0. In a machine for aflixing metal tabs to successive articles, means for feeding successive articles step by step into tab aflixing position, means for feeding metal tab forming strips into amxing position, means operative at the end of the strip feeding operation to move the successive articles transversely relatively to the step by step feeding movement thereof to locate the ends of the tab strips in notches formed in the upper and lower surfaces of the articles, and means engaging the ends of the tab strips operative to secure the ends of the tab strips together through openings formed in the successive articles.

11. In a machine for afiixing metal tabs to successive articles, means for feeding successive articles step by step into tab aflixing position, means for feeding metal tab forming strips into "iii -a 1 position, means operative at the end of the strip feeding operation to move the successive articles transversely relatively to' the step by step feeding movement thereof to locate the ends of the tab strips in notches formed in the upper and lower surfaces of the articles, means engaging the ends of the tab strips operative to secure the ends of the tab strips together through openings formed in the successive articles, and

, means for severing tabs from the tab strips after the tab strips have been secured to ram amachine for sflixing metal tabs in successive articles, means for feeding successive articles step by step into tab amxingposition 1 means for feeding metal tab strips into tab afflxing position on opposed sides of successive articles, welding means for securing the ends of successive pairs of the tab strips together through openings formed in the successive articles, and severing mechanism for severing supporting member arranged to move said movable severing members toward said stationary severing member to sever tabs from continuous lengths of tab strips, a tab ailixing member carried by the re'ciprocable supporting member and movable therewith into engagement with the ends of the tab strips. to secure theends of the tab strips to an article, and means carried by said supporting member for moving-the movable severing members in a cutting direction while the tab ailixing members engage the ends of the strips to secure'the ends of the strips to the articlei 14. In-a machine for ailixing swinging metal tabs to articles, an upper tab severing member,

a lower tab severing member, connections between said severing members for causingmove-Q ment of said members toward and away from each other, a reciprocable support for the upper tab severing member, means for intermittently reciprocating the support, an upper tab afllxing member fixed to said support and arranged for movement into engagement with the end of an upper metal tab strip, a lower tab amxing member connected to said lower tab severing member, said tab amxing members being arranged tobe moved toward each other into engagement with the ends of the respective tab strips for securing the tab strips to an article, and means carried by the support for-engaging the upper tab severing member to move said tab severing member in a tab severing'direction and actuating said lower severing member and said lower tab aflixstrips, means for welding together the free end parts of said tab strips through said opening in the intervening printing device, and means oper I tab afllxing position, means for feeding metal tab strips-into tab afllxing position, means movable transversely of the path of movement of the article feeding means to position the successive articles in tab receiving position, means for amxing the ends of the tab strips to the successive articles, means for-severing tabs from the tab strips after the tab strip have been aflixed to the successive articles, and a tab engaging finger constructed and arranged to move the free end of the severed tab beyond said severing means thereby releasing the free end of the tab strip from the severing means and preventing the tab from interfering with the step by step feeding movement of the successive articles. 7

18. In a machine for afllxing swinging metal tabs to articles, means for feeding superposed tab forming strips into tab afiixing position, means for feeding successive articles into tab amxing position, means for engaging the succes sive-articles to move them transversely of their path of feed and lengthwise of the tab strips, a plurality of cutting members arranged for movement toward each other for severing tabs from the tab strips, tab afllxing means constructed and arranged to engage the ends of the tab strips and to secure the ends of the tab strips together through holes formed in the successive articles to secure the ends of the tab strips to the successive articles during a part of the severing move- 0 ment of said severing members, and means arranged to engage the free ends of the tabs at the completion of the severing operation to release the free end of the tabs from the severing 1 mechanism thereby preventing the tabs from interfering with successive article feeding operations.

19. In a, machine for afiixing swinging metal tabs to stencils, strip feeding means arranged to feed the ends of tab forming strips into position above and below a stencil intab afiixing position,

ing member for movement toward said upper a stationary cutter member between said strips,

severing and tab amxing members to secure the ends of the tab strips to the work and thereafter to sever tabs from the continuous strips.

15. In a machine for aflixing metal tabs to address-printing devices, a stationary t'ab severing member, upper and lower reciprocable tab severing members, means for feeding a pair of superposed metal tab strips over opposite faces of said stationary tab severing member, means for advancing a succession of printing devices into confronting relation with said stationary tab severing member and into the space between the ends of said strips, means for affixing together the front ends of said tab strips through the intervening printing device, and means operative after the afllxing of said tab strips together to effect the severing operation of the afilxed tabs from the trips by said upper and lower tab severing members.

16. In a machine for aflixing metal tabs to address printing devices, means for advancing a printing device having a tab-aillxing opening therein into position to receive on opposed surfaces a pair of su rp sed metaltab strips, the

5!! operation to hold the movable cutter members movable toward each other and toward said stationary cutter member for severing the strips to form a tab for the stencil, and means operated during the severing secure the tab ends together through an opening formed in the stencil.

20,- In a machine for affixing swinging metal tabs to stencils having tab receiving notches in so their upper and lower surfaces, means for feeding successive stencils into tab aflixing position, feeding means for feeding said strips into the notches formed in a stencil, a stationary cutter member interposed between said strips and above 05 and below which the strips are fed, movable cutter members cooperating with said stationary cutter member for severing the tab strips, means carried byone of said cutter members for forming a projection adjacent to the end of one of said tab strips adapted to enter an opening printing device intervening between said tab ll together through said projection,

strips in alignment and to 21. In a machine for affixing swinging metal tabs to stencils having tab receiving notches in their upper and lower surfaces, means for feeding successive stencils step by step into tab affixing position, means for feeding said tab forming strips into th notches formed in a stencil, means arranged to engage one edge of the stencil to move the stencil transversely to bring the inner ends of the notches into engagement with the ends of the tab strips, a stationary cutter located between said strips, movable cutter members cooperating with said stationary cutter member 25. In a machine for affixing metal tabs to address printing devices, the combination of for severing the tab strips, means carried by one of the cutter members for forming a projection adjacent to the end of one of the tab strips, said projection being adapted to enter an opening formed in the stencil to cause the end portions of the tab strips to be in contact with each other, welding electrodes engaging the end portions of said strips adjacent to said projection for welding the strip ends together through said projection, and means arranged to engage the severed ends of the tabs at the completion of the severing operation to release the free ends from the stationary cutter member to prevent the tabs from interfering with successive article feeding operations.

22. In a machine for afiixing swinging metal tabs to stencils having tab receiving notches in their upper and lower surfaces,'means for moving said successive stencils step by step into tab affixing position, intermittently operating means for feeding the tab strips into the notches formed in a stencil, a stationary cutter member located between the tab strips, movable cutter members cooperating with the stationary cutter member for severing the tab strips, a. finger for engaging the stencil and for moving the stencil transversely to position the ends of the tab strips in the ends of the notches formed in the stencil, operating means for said finger associated with said movable cutter members for actuating the finger, and electrical welding means engaging said strips for welding the strips together through an opening formed in the stencil adjacent to the inner end of the notches.

23. A machine for affixing swinging metal tabs to stencils having tab receiving notches in their upper and lower surfaces having in combination, stationary strip severing means, cooperating movable stripsevering means, said stationary severing means having a rounded end portion, means on one of said movable cutter members for form-' ing a projection adjacent to the end of the tab strips arranged to be received in an opening formed in the stencil to which the tab strips are tit means for advancing successive printing devices in a step by step manner into and out of a tab amxing position and thence into and out of a tab trimming position, means operative to aflix to a printing device a pair of metal tabs disposed on opposite sides of the printing device, means operative on said tabs to move improperly positioned tabs into a predetermined position with respect to the printing device, and means for trimming the ends of the positioned tabs.

26. In a tab amxing machine, means for feeding a succession of address printing devices in a predetermined path, means for feeding superposed tab forming strips over opposite faces of a printing device, means for advancinga printing device laterally of said pathinto the space between said strips, means for securing said strips together through the printing device and for thereafter severing the attached tab parts from the bodies of said strips, means for subsequently returning said advanced printing device into said path of movement, means operative on the tab ofthe printing device to move the tab into a predetermined position with respect to the printing device, and means for trimming the free end parts of the positioned tab.

27. In a tab affixing machine, means for advancing a pair of superposed metal tab forming strips and for imparting a stress therein to cause said strips to bend inwardly toward each other, means for advancing an article into the space between the end parts of said strips, means for aflixing together the end parts of said strips through the article, and means for severing the attached end parts from the bodies of the strips whereby 5 the attached end parts are free to bend inwardly toward each other and to snugly engage the opposite faces of the article.

28. An improvement in methods of applying tabs to stencil frames which includes locating a pair of superimposed tab-forming strips in tab aflixing position over opposite sides of a stencil to be secured, and means arranged to be moved between the stationary cutter member and the strip having a projection thereon to lift the pro- .iection out of the recess in the stationary cutter member to permit the strip to be fed forwardly for another severing operation.

24. A machine for afiixing swinging metal tabs to stencils having tab receiving notches in their upper and lower surfaces having in combination, means for feeding successive stencils into tab afiixing position, intermittently operated, means for feeding the strips into the notches formed in the stencils, a stationary cutter member interposed between the strips and above and below which the strips are fed, movable cutter members cooperating with the stationary cutter member for severing the tab strips, means operative to move the free ends of the severed strips frame, permanently securing together the forward ends of the tab-forming strips through an opening formed in the frame, and then severing end portions of a pair of superposed metaltab forming strips into tab amxing position over opposite sides of a sheet, welding together the superposed tab forming strips through an opening formed in the sheet, and subsequently severing the tabs from the tab strips.

31. An improvement in methods of applyingswinging metal tabs to stencils having a frame composed of an intermediate welt sheet combined between facing sheets, the welt sheet at.

the tab which projects beyond the edge of the stencil.

' 32. The method of applying a metal tab to the frameof an address printing device comprising forming a metal tab member with-a projection outstanding from a faceof the member atone end part thereof, the projection being longer than the thickness of that part of the frame that is to carry the tab, superimposing said. tab

member upon one face of the frame and projecting said projection through a perforation of the frame, applying a second metaltabmember over the opposite face of the frame thereof with the end part thereof in contact with said projection, and welding said projection to said second tab member.

33. The method of applying a tab to an address printing device which comprises forming a pair' of tab. members with an inherent stress to bend opposite faces of said device,'which method comprises forming a projection that outstands from a face of one leg at the end part thereof, the projection being higher than the thickness of the printing device, passing said projectionthrough a perforation of the printing device and into contact with the face of the other leg, and welding said projection to said other leg.

35. The method of attaching a metal'tab permanently to an address printing device, the metal tab having a pair of confronting legs that overlie opposite faces of said device, which method comprises forming a projection thatoutstands from a face of one leg at the end part thereof, the projection being higher than the thickness of the printing device, passing said projection through a perforation of the printing device and into contact with the face of the other leg,'and welding said projection to said other leg and during the welding operation reducing the height of the projection sufliciently to cause the opposing faces to engage the opposite faces of the printing device sufficiently firmly to maintain the tab in any position in which it may be set while permitting jection.

36. An improvement in methods of applying metal tabs to stencil frames which includes in one direction and also forming one of said tab members with a projection extended from a face thereof at one end part, applying said tab members against the opposite faces ofv the printing device with the stress of said tab members directed in a direction to bend the tab members toward each other and against the interposed printing device with said projection extended forward ends of the tab forming strips through through a perforation of the printing device and in contact with the other tab member, and weld ing said projection to said-other tab member;

34. The method of attaching a metal tab permanently to an address printing device, the metal tab having a pair of confronting legs that overlie cil frame.

stressing a pair of superposed tab strips to. cause them to flex toward each other, interposing a stencil frame between the flexed ends of the strips, securing to ether the forward ends of the tab forming strips through an opening formed in the frame, and severing the tab from the tab forming strips.

37. An-improvement in methods of applying metal tabs to stencil frames which includes advancing a pair of superposed metal tab forming strips, flexing the ends of the tab forming strips toward each other, securing together the flexed an opening formed in an interposed stencil frame,

and then severing the forward ends of the tab forming strips to provide a tab fixed to said sten- HZRMON P. ELLIOTT.

the tab topivot about said pro- 

